CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
Exhibit
Switch# show running-config interface GigabitEthernet0/1 Building configuration... Current configuration : 155 bytes ! interface GigabitEthernet0/1 description Access Port for VLAN 10 switchport mode access switchport access vlan 10 no ip address spanning-tree portfast end Switch# show vlan brief VLAN Name Status Ports ---- -------------------------------- --------- ------------------------------- 1 default active Gi0/2, Gi0/3, Gi0/4 10 Engineering active Gi0/1 100 Management active Gi0/24 1002 fddi-default act/unsup 1003 token-ring-default act/unsup 1004 fddinet-default act/unsup 1005 trnet-default act/unsup Switch# show interfaces GigabitEthernet0/1 switchport Name: Gi0/1 Switchport: Enabled Administrative Mode: static access Operational Mode: static access Administrative Trunking Encapsulation: dot1q Operational Trunking Encapsulation: native Negotiation of Trunking: Off Access Mode VLAN: 10 (Engineering) Trunking Native Mode VLAN: 1 (default) Administrative Native VLAN tagging: enabled Voice VLAN: none Administrative private-vlan host-association: none Administrative private-vlan mapping: none Administrative private-vlan trunk native VLAN: none Administrative private-vlan trunk Native VLAN tagging: enabled Administrative private-vlan trunk encapsulation: dot1q Administrative private-vlan trunk normal VLANs: none Administrative private-vlan trunk private VLANs: none Operational private-vlan: none Trunking VLANs Enabled: ALL Pruning VLANs Enabled: 2-1001 Capture Mode Disabled Capture VLANs Allowed: ALL Protected: false Appliance trust: none
A user on VLAN 10 reports that they cannot ping the default gateway at 192.168.10.1 from their PC with IP 192.168.10.50/24. The switch interface connecting to the PC is up/up, and the PC shows a valid IP configuration. What is the most likely cause of this connectivity failure?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that a VLAN alone provides Layer 3 connectivity, when in fact an SVI or a separate router-on-a-stick configuration is required for inter-VLAN routing and default gateway functionality.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.
The PC and default gateway are on the same subnet (192.168.10.0/24), but the switch lacks a Layer 3 interface for VLAN 10. Without an SVI (Switch Virtual Interface) configured with an IP address in that subnet, the switch cannot route traffic to the gateway or respond to ARP requests from the PC, breaking connectivity even though the access port is up/up.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Change the switchport mode to trunk to allow VLAN 10 traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring the switchport as a trunk does not provide the necessary Layer 3 gateway for VLAN 10. Trunk ports are designed to carry multiple VLANs between switches or to routers, not to connect end hosts like a PC. A typical PC NIC does not tag frames with 802.1Q, so it would be unable to communicate on a trunk port. This would eliminate untagged access and fail to create the routed SVI needed for the PC's default gateway.
- ✓
Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.
Why this is correct
The switch must provide a Layer 3 interface in VLAN 10 to serve as the default gateway for PCs in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. An SVI (interface vlan 10) with an IP address from that subnet creates a routable interface on the multilayer switch. This allows hosts in VLAN 10 to send traffic to other subnets, as their default gateway points to that SVI. Without this SVI, the PC has no gateway to route its traffic beyond its local segment.
- ✗
Change the PC's IP address to a different subnet, such as 192.168.20.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the PC's IP to a different subnet like 192.168.20.0/24 does not resolve the missing default gateway issue. The PC would still require a gateway in its new subnet, and the switch port remains assigned to VLAN 10, so the PC would be in an access VLAN that expects a different IP range. This would break local connectivity and still leave the PC without a valid route off-subnet. It incorrectly treats the symptom as an IP addressing problem rather than a missing Layer 3 interface.
- ✗
Recreate VLAN 10 and reassign the port to it.
Why it's wrong here
Recreating VLAN 10 and reassigning the port would not fix the issue because the VLAN and port assignment already exist and are functional at Layer 2. The real problem is that no SVI exists for VLAN 10, so the switch has no IP address to serve as the default gateway. Recreating the VLAN would temporarily remove the VLAN and could drop the port assignment, but it would not create the required Layer 3 interface. Therefore this action does not address the actual root cause of the lack of a routed gateway.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Configure an SVI for VLAN 10 with an IP address in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The switch must provide a Layer 3 interface in VLAN 10 to serve as the default gateway for PCs in the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. An SVI (interface vlan 10) with an IP address from that subnet creates a routable interface on the multilayer switch. This allows hosts in VLAN 10 to send traffic to other subnets, as their default gateway points to that SVI. Without this SVI, the PC has no gateway to route its traffic beyond its local segment.
✗Change the switchport mode to trunk to allow VLAN 10 traffic.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A trunk port is used to carry multiple VLANs between switches, not to connect an end device like a PC. Configuring the switchport as trunk would break connectivity because the PC expects an access port.
Why candidates choose this
Students may confuse trunking with allowing VLAN traffic, thinking that setting the port to trunk will enable VLAN 10 traffic to pass, but trunking is for inter-switch links, not end devices.
✗Change the PC's IP address to a different subnet, such as 192.168.20.0/24.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Changing the PC's IP subnet would not resolve the issue because the PC would still need a default gateway on its new subnet. The root cause is the missing SVI on the switch, not the PC's IP address.
Why candidates choose this
A student might think the PC is on the wrong subnet if it cannot ping the gateway, but the PC's IP is correctly within the 192.168.10.0/24 subnet. Changing subnets would only create additional problems.
✗Recreate VLAN 10 and reassign the port to it.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Recreating VLAN 10 and reassigning the port does not address the missing SVI. The VLAN already exists and the port is correctly assigned; the issue is at Layer 3, not Layer 2.
Why candidates choose this
Students may assume that the VLAN configuration is corrupted or the port assignment is incorrect, leading them to recreate the VLAN. However, the problem is the lack of a gateway, not a VLAN issue.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
IPv4 Addressing and Address Classes
Key term
Interface
An interface is a point of connection or interaction between two systems, devices, or software components that allows them to exchange information or signals.
Key term
SVI
A Switch Virtual Interface (SVI) is a logical, software-based interface on a multilayer switch that provides Layer 3 routing capabilities for a VLAN, allowing devices in different VLANs to communicate without an external router.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.